Open Thread and Diary Rescue

Tonight, our 4th of July Rescue Rangers Marching Band is comprised of srkp23 on clarinet, mem from somerville on trumpet, taylormattd on trombone, noddem on sax, grog on drums, and sunspark says on flute, with watercarrier4diogenes on tuba, bringing up the rear.

Tonight's diaries decorate the skyline with starbursts of ideas, rockets of news, and waving flags of memories, highlighting, each in their own way, why this day carries so much meaning for all of us.

Ellinorianne shares a personal story this Independence Day: My Grandfather's Flag. (taylormattd)

David A Love shares a tribute to his dad with the story of an American life: a son, a husband, a parent, a grandparent, a veteran, in A Homegoing For My Father. (mem from somerville)

Vikingkingq takes a close look at the fundamentals of The Left in FDR's Second Bill of Rights and the Progressive Mission. (sunspark says)

Celebrate with Everyday Citizen who informs us that a long overdue honor for a hero is finally awarded in Yes! After 66 Years! Congressional Medal for a Fallen Hero! (mem from somerville)

greenomanic offers this fascinating, resident account of Alaska's growth and contemporary attitudes in so long, sarah! [did AK outgrow you?]. (grog)

blueness tells the story of Mohammed el-Gharani, an innocent young man recently freed from Guantanamo, in Man Without A Country. (taylormattd)

maha is sure you will be shocked, shocked to learn that Iraq, Afghanistan Vets Sue KBR over practices that inflicted serious harm on the health of veterans. (grog)

MAGraduate describes Growing Up Gay in Fiji; Undocumented in America. (taylormattd)

Consider putting a member of this community on another continent: welsberr asks you to Freeze Me, Please. (mem from somerville)

lineatus describes birds and old sayings about birds while examing how the health of bird populations mirrors the health of the planet in Dawn Chorus Birdblog: They say... (DK GreenRoots). (grog)

Worried that Global Climate Change may be destroying the only planet we have, buhdydharma takes us on a beautiful, thoughtful voyage into The green, green roots of Home. (sunspark says)

possum takes us on a trip down memory lane in Down Home: Family Travel. (srkp23)

Following what has to be one of the most bizarre two-week news cycles ever, Ed Tracey's wonderful, off the wall Odds & Ends: Weekly News/Humor Roundup might easily be overlooked, but don't do it; it's well worth a visit. (sunspark says)

jotter has High Impact Diaries: July 3, 2009, while BeninSC has Top Comments 7-4-09 – Another DK Greenroots Edition.

Enjoy the hot dogs and fireworks above, and please promote your own favorite diaries in this open thread (even if you're the author! Here's where that's actually appreciated). And, of course, since it's an open thread, PLAY NICE, OK? 8^)

Tonight, our 4th of July Rescue Rangers Marching Band is comprised of srkp23 on clarinet, mem from somerville on trumpet, taylormattd on trombone, noddem on sax, grog on drums, and sunspark says on flute, with watercarrier4diogenes on tuba, bringing up the rear.

Tonight's diaries decorate the skyline with starbursts of ideas, rockets of news, and waving flags of memories, highlighting, each in their own way, why this day carries so much meaning for all of us.